The decked-out dining room....

Okay, calling this a dining room is stretching things a bit since it's actually just a small eating area connected to the kitchen and living room (most split entry 'cottages' don't have real dining rooms)...

(click any photos to enlarge)

I stood on my tippy toes and held the camera up high to give you a bit of a bird's eye view of the room... Oh, let me move those two chairs so you can see the tablecloth I'm using this Christmas...

Well that was a mistake! It would have been nice if I'd ironed it before putting it on the table!! (Irons and I don't really care too much for each other)...


This view was taken from the living room. The windows above the half-wall are strictly decorative, overlooking the family room off the back of the house.


And this view is looking toward the living room (I'll share the hutch and fireplace photos in my next few posts).

These photos were taken last week. If I took them today you'd see a blanket of snow outside! Not too much changes in this window from year to year... The animated doll from the 80's and the little white Christmas tree are always placed there. (The animated doll used to be dressed in red plaid but I gave her a shabby cottage makeover several years ago.)

The Christmas cactus is blooming beautifully! One new thing I did add to this area is the "ice crystal" wreath that I got on clearance last year. It definitely adds some sparkle and reflection to the window.

The silver glitter bird didn't come with the wreath, but I thought he looked right at home nesting in it.

My bird collection grew too big for this tree, so now it's just decorated with small pink and aqua bell ornaments. I'll show you in an upcoming post where the bird ornaments ended up!

You might remember the pink sugarplum reindeer who gave up their "reindeer barn" (a.k.a vintage birdcage) to my Christmas sheep this year... They're happily grazing by a tall (bottlebrush) pine tree on the jelly cupboard these days...

... where they're being kept company by a couple of the Wal Mart glitter birds I showed you a few weeks ago...

The mini birdcage on top of the mirrored cupboard also got decorated for the holidays with a chippy vintage angel. Pete and Re-Pete (two of my many parakeets) approve.

A small white manger sits on top of our little recycling center in the dining room....

... while stars & snowflakes sparkle, and reindeer prance across the windowpanes.

And speaking of reindeer, I just love these deer that I got at Target years ago, with their scrolly antlers just dripping with prisms... They guard the Christmas tree centerpiece every year (although from what, I don't know!!)

Here's a good closeup of the vintage morning glory tablecloth I'm using this year. The tablecloths are about the only thing that gets changed from year to year in this room. (You can see the past 5 years' tables in this post.

Another thing I did differently this year was decorating the chandelier. I attached my dollar tinsel wreaths (such a deal!) and then hung a few of the sparkle birds along with some glittery white stars I had on hand....

It really does give a festive look to this little room!

I still have so much to share with you... more of the living room... the fireplace, the hutch, my new bird tree, the winter village set up on the TV and, of course, my collection of Night Before Christmas books, so if any of that interests you, pop in again from time to time!

Now be sure to visit Rhoda at Southern Hospitality and see her elegant home all decked out for the holidays!! You'll also find a list of many, many bloggers sharing their Home for the Holidays decorations!!! Have fun touring!

Donna